Dog that hasn’t left shelter’s cage in four years draws support from around the country

WATERBURY, Conn. – A pit bull that has been locked up at a Connecticut pound for four years has gotten the attention of animal lovers nationwide.

It is a case that has been sitting in Federal Court and its fate is up to the judge.

Animal advocates said the Waterbury Dog Pound is looking to euthanize Rose, but people all over the country are refusing to let that happen and are pushing the judge to keep her alive.

“I mean, think about it. Day in and day out for four years, day and night, that is all that dog has is a silver bowl,” Jamie Lambo told WTIC.

Lambo is one of the hundreds of supporters who said Rose has not left her cell in four years.

“She hasn’t been on grass, she hasn’t been touched by a human, she hasn’t been walked, she has zero love or attention,” added Lambo.

Rose’s owner is Glorianna Lagnese who lives in Waterbury. WTIC went to her home to ask about Rose, but no one came to the door.

According to court documents dating back to 2015, Rose allegedly got loose in April 2014 and was involved in an incident with two neighbors. Newer court documents also detail a “biting incident” off of Lagnese’s property.

“There were people trying to corral her as of a bit of a frenzied situation from what we’re being told and Rose did bite two of the people that were attempting to catch her,” added Lambo.

That same day, Waterbury Animal Control took Rose away. Lagnese tried to get Rose back, but animal control denied that and issued a kill order on the dog, a decision entirely up to animal control under state law.

Lagnese filed a class action lawsuit and teamed up with other dog owners from across the state and claimed Connecticut’s dog euthanasia laws are unconstitutional.

On March 30th of this year, a Federal Court judge denied the class action status of the lawsuit. At the end of May, the city requested to move forward with euthanization because of that ruling.

Since then, animal activists have been doing everything they can to stop that from happening.

“Rose has been forced into an existence for four years that no animal should have to exist the lack of attention, the lack of human contact. Dogs are social animals and that goes against every grain,”

WTIC has learned a reputable rescue shelter has offered to take in Rose and is willing to list the City of Waterbury as an additional insurer on their insurance policy.

There is no specific date on when Rose would be euthanized but supporters said time is running out.